[8] Wii Sports Resort received positive reviews from critics for its improved controls, gameplay, and graphics.

[10] The first time a player starts the game, several instructional videos will play, then the strap usage screen and the Wii MotionPlus test.

For example, the game's new variation, Table Tennis, gives the player greater control over adding spin to the ball by twisting the Wii Remote while swinging.

[13] At the center-right of the island, a large volcano is prominent, called "Maka Wuhu" ("Mt.

[12] Before being given a name, a similar but less detailed version of the island was featured in a playable demo at E3 2006 titled Wii Sports: Airplane,[13][15] a minigame similar to PilotWings where the player would fly a plane around an island, passing through rings on a set time limit.

[13][22] To celebrate the release of Wii Sports Resort, on 23 July 2009, Nintendo transformed a part of Times Square in New York City to a beach-style vacation area based on Wuhu Island, containing a beach, pool, lounge, and bar.

Additionally, people who visited were allowed to play the full game before its intended release on 26 July 2009.

[22] He suggested the island was so much of a concrete location, with polished graphics and key details, it was as if it has become its own character.

He furthered that the island generated familiarity, stating, "We thought it would be a fun idea to have a location that everyone knows and then have all sorts of stuff going on there."

The game features gameplay similar to the piloting minigame in Wii Sports Resort.

[32] Two minigames, fishing and water slide riding, were first considered for inclusion in the game but were scrapped during development.

A prototype kendama minigame was also created, but it was left out of the final product as the developers felt it did not fit into the resort theme.

[39][40] Wii Sports Resort has received generally “favorable reviews”, with an average score on Metacritic of 80%.

IGN gave it a 7.7 out of 10, saying that the controls were impressive and the graphics were superb compared to most Wii games.

"[71] In May 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA) endorsed the Wii to encourage sedentary people to take the first step toward fitness.

[20] A paper craft model was created to represent Wuhu Island, featured by Engadget.

[83] In 2009, Wii Sports Resort sold 7.57 million copies, making it the second-biggest-selling game worldwide of that year.